Life preserver



July 25, 1933. F. s. GENOVESE LIFE PRESERVER Filed ma 'ls, 1932 INVENTOR Eancamo J1 qenorema ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES Patented July 25, 1933 .rnnlvonsco s. .sENov-nsn, or JAMAICA, new YORK i 7 fans} rnnsnnvnn .Applicatin filed May 13,

This invention relates-to life prcservers and hasj for an object to provide an improved construction wherein the same may be readily applied or removed and not appreciably deteriorate during use and for a long time when unused.

Another objcct'of the invention is to'. provide an improved life preserver which'may be quickly secured around the waist, and, if desired, supported by the shoulders, the structure including flexible metallic sections for carrying metallic floats. I I

An additional object, more specifically, is the provision of a life preserver formed of different shaped metallic floats removably mounted on sections of a band or belt, the

arrangement being such that the band or.

belt may be fastened around the body of a person quickly whenuthe' preserver is to be used.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a plan View of a life preserver disclosing an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary edge view showing slightly more than one of the units illustrated in Figure 1. V

a Figure 3 is a rear View of a slightly modified form of life vpreserverto that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view with certain parts broken away illustrating slightly. more than two units of the structure shown in Fig ure 3. I p

Figure 5 is anelevation of another modified form of the invention wherein hollow metallic balls are removably connected to a supporting chain.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 indicates what maybe termed a belt orband, the same'being made of a number of flat plates or strips 2 of metal, having their ends 3 and l turned over to produce eyes through which the respective links 5 extend, thus connecting the various plates. To augment and re-enforce the link 5, a pair of rings 6 is arranged at each juncture of the-respective plates 2 so thatin case one or more rings should 'break or, come loose, there willbe enough left to hold the parts together. Suitable rings 6 are i so that damage to part of the life preserver float 13 having three cars 15 on each side floating action the person might wish.v

1932. Serial in. 611,176.

mounted vat one end of the belt while snap the preserver to be mounted on persons of dilferentsizes. i

As lllustrated particularly in Figure 2,

there is afloat 9 on each plate'2, said float being made from-metal and hollow so as to produce a desired floating action when in use. An ear 10 is formed either integral with the float 9'01- rigidly secured thereto and extending through an aperture 11 in plate 2, after which the ring 12 is mounted in the ear so as to lock the float on the plate i 2. In this way all the floats are removable and in case any one should become damaged,

it can be removed and a new one substituted will not necessitate throwing the entire preserver away, but only the injured parts.

In Figure 3, substantially the same structureis shown as that shown inFigure 2, but the floats 13 are oval in cross section, as 1 shown in Figure 4, and comparatively long. so as to secure a better floating action. Also, there are provided a number of bands 14 connected by'loops 14 and links 5', each accommodating certain of the rings 16. A metallic shoulder strap 17'and back strap 17 are also providedand connected in any suitable manner with certain ofthefioats so that the shoulder. straps maybe fitted over the shoulders of the person using the life preserver, while hooks 7 may be used to clamp the various belts around the person.

Where the person expects to stay in the I water some time, the arrangementshown in Figure 3is preferable as it gives a better floating action by reason of the size of the floats 13, but, if desired,the floats 9 could be made large enough-to secure whatever In Figure 5 a further modified form of the invention is shown wherein hollow metallic balls 18 are utilized, the same being connected by snap fasteners 19 to a chain 20,. which chain may be clamped around the 09 Waist of a person by a snap fastener 21.

While this form of the invention may be used as a regular llfe preserver, 1t is also adapted for use in learning how to swim. and fortnnid persons 111 bathing, as it w ll support either all of the body or part of the body in Water, and thereby permit a person tolearn how to swim more readily. 7 It Is understood of course that the amount of buoyancy is determined by, the sizeof the balls 18 in comparison to the Weight.

I claim r t 1; A lifepreserver comprising a belt section formed :from a plurality of plates, means for hingedly connecting the plates together, each plate having an aperture therein, a hollow metallicfloat mounted on each. plate, each float having antapertured no i;

ear extending through the aperture in the plate, and a ring mounted in the apertured earfor locking the float in position.

2. A complete metal life preserver comprising a plurality of bands, each band hav- 'ing aplurality of independent plates, each plate having a substantially centrally positioned aperture said plates being articulated, means for connectingtheends of said hands together When the preserver is in use, a single float for one plate of each band, each through the apertures in said plates, removable locking members extending through said ears for removably locking said floats in position, and a pair of shoulder straps connected with certain of thefloats.

1 FRANCESCO s. GENOVESE.

of said floats having ears adapted to extend 

